Dave Valentin (born April 29, 1952, New York City) is a Latin jazz flautist. Valentin was born to Puerto-Rican parents in The Bronx in New York City. He attended the High School of Music and Art. He learned percussion at an early age, and by 13 was playing conga and timbales professionally. When he was 17, he took up flute so he could get a know a girl in school who played the flute. He borrowed a flute, bought a Herbie Mann record, and started to teach himself. Years later, he recorded an album with Mann called Two Amigos. He took lessons from Hubert Laws, who became his mentor.